Category: Europe

MOL Group has produced a diesel fuel containing hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at the Slovnaft refinery in Bratislava. The HVO was produced using oil from cashew nut shells and the biocomponent produced this way was processed together with crude oil. MOL has already been using co-processing at its Danube Refinery in Százhalombatta for some years, mixing plant residues, as the bio and fossil fuel components are processed simultaneously during production. The SAF at Bratislava was also produced via co-processing, using partially refined cooking oil together with more traditional raw materials.

Grupa Azoty SA is set to begin producing its new multi-component fertilizer – POLIFOSKA Multi S –at its Police site in Poland. This launch marks the latest addition to the company’s fertilizer portfolio, joining the likes of megAN (a high-granule ammonium nitrate fertilizer), RSM OPTIMA (a nitrate-urea solution with a distinctive light blue colour for easy product origin identification), and eNpluS (an ammonium fertilizer enriched with sulphur and calcium). POLIFOSKA Multi-S is designed with readily soluble and plant-available nutrients: 7% nitrogen in ammoniacal form, 10% phosphorus, 20% potassium, 5% calcium, 1% magnesium, and 23% sulphur in sulphate form. It is also enriched with silicon. Thanks to its excellent water solubility, the nutrients are rapidly delivered to the roots, supporting plant development from the very start of the growing season.

TotalEnergies has signed agreements with Air Liquide to develop two projects in the Netherlands for the production and delivery of some 45,000 t/a of green hydrogen produced using renewable power, generated mostly by the OranjeWind offshore wind farm, developed by TotalEnergies (50%) and RWE (50%). These projects will cut CO2 emissions from TotalEnergies’ refineries in Belgium and the Netherlands by up to 450,000 t/a and contribute to the European renewable energy targets in transport.

Russian media reports suggest that a large scale Ukrainian drone strike on February 3rd attacked a number of oil and gas processing facilities, including Gazprom’s Astrakhan Gas Processing Plant. Video of the site showing fires burning were posted to social media. Astrakhan is one of the largest sulphur producing sites in Russia, with an output of around 3.5 million t/a in 2024. The Moscow Times reported that production had been shut down at the site, and would likely remain so for “several months”.

SKW Piesteritz cut production and closed one of its two ammonia plants indefinitely in mid-January.

Fertilizer International interviews Graeme Cousland, Managing Director, and Martyn Dean, Sales Director, Begg Cousland Envirotec Limited.

Grupa Azoty has started production of a new sulphur-enriched fertilizer at its Police complex in Poland.

Russia is considering limiting potash exports from the second quarter of 2025.

The European Commission is proposing to place tariffs on EU fertilizer imports from Russia and Belarus.

High energy storage costs for renewable-based technologies are likely to make European long term carbon prices considerably higher than their present levels.